Chương 23: Truth in the Feigned Affection (VII)

"Bixie, the third prince." Won's voice spoke to the monarch who was sitting alone on the windowsill.

Despite the announcement of the Royal Physician's arrival, Emperor Yang Long did not turn his face to the physician.

Won did not linger around and left for the two brothers to be together.

Once Won was gone, it was just the two of them left in the room. However, the entire study room was quiet.

One looked outside his mirror completely ignoring the other while the other stood quietly in the middle of the room.

Some time had passed but it was still the same neither side was giving in.

Until slowly, Emperor Yang Long slowly turned half of his face to this brother's of his, "Fu Jin, this time, you have really stepped out of your line. What would you like to say about it?" Emperor Yang Long's voice was neither hostile or friendly. However, as brothers or half brothers, it was truly indifference that was being shown.

The Royal Physician Jin cupped his hand and spoke, 'This Physician is only acting as a subject to his superiors."

"Nonsenses! If it was as such then you would have not defied my orders!" Emperor Yang Long finally did not keep his cool.

However, the Royal Physician Jin stayed quiet and did not respond.

Seeing the stubbornness coming from his brother, the Emperor got up from the windowsill and walked over to third prince Fu Jin like a predator to it's prey.

"You made her your student? And you even told her everything, do you not think of the Royal family!? She is but a mere Empress while Zhen is the emperor and you think she is higher than Zhen? Or is it that Zhen was never in your sight?" Emperor Yang Long's every question all targeted the third prince to an accusing conclusion.

The Royal Physician could not help but laugh at his brother's wary thoughts, "Why make such accusations on this physician bixie? I am nothing but a mere physician."

"Are you?" The Emperor questioned.

"That is right bixie."

"But royal blood runs through your veins, my brother. Like it or not, you are still the third prince in my eyes and you will always be." Finally, the Emperor revealed and declared it to the third prince.

"You think too highly of me bixie."

"Haha, Zhen, knows you better than anyone."

All this while, the Royal Physician kept his eyes lowered, but the Emperor's last few words made him to lift his eyes up to the same level as the Emperor, "You do not know me. You do not even know yourself!"

"Fu Jin!"

"I know you wanted to save your baby and also that lady of yours! But are you not the monarch? Where is your justice bixie!?" It was now the Royal Physician's turn who raised his voice.

Within a swift, the Emperor's hand was already on the third prince's collar. The third prince's white robes became creased up in the Emperor's hand.

"So you choose to tell the Empress about how my son died? You think you can bring justice for my son? But he is my son, not yours!"

The Royal Physician's eyes became soft, "Don't you even think that's the least you could do for him as his father?"

The Emperor slowly let go of the third prince's collar, "You do not understand. In the end, the Feng family…'

"They might cease but he should not have died before that even happened, don't you also think so, brother?"

Hearing the third prince finally calling him brother after so long, the Emperor could not help turn to look at him.

The Emperor closed his eyes tiredly, "The past is the past now, but from now on, refrain from meeting the Empress."

"I'm afraid I cannot do that." The Royal Physician Jin replied firmly.

Emperor Yang Long's voice turned immediately hostile, "Why?"

"Because she is my student and I am her master. I will teach her to stay on the right path. That is the least I can do."

"You will teach her nothing. Her path has long been cut since the day she married into the Royal family."

A sneer appeared on the Royal Physician's face, "I wonder who cut her path? It wasn't her nor her family, but it was you, brother."

The Royal Physician's answer was a punch that was flying into his face. However, before it could hit handsome his face, he had lifted his hand to defend it away from his face.

The two then began duelling with each other. Both giving kicks and punches to each other. Though they were fighting each other, neither were showing any vicious intentions behind their moves, only frustration at one another. Their movement was so fast, that it was hardly visible who was winning or losing.

However, coming to the end, Emperor Yang Long's last move was pushing the third prince to the wall and shielding his arms into a lock.

"You've lost brother." Emperor Yang Long spoke with a panting voice.

"You're just the same brother." The third prince replied with the same panting voice.

"Hm, I can see you haven't forgotten master's teachings, but you're much slower than before."

"I might be using it more for the days to come." The third prince replied back.

'I would like it if you did not have to use them." Emperor Yang Long expressed his wishes to this stubborn brother of his.

"You know you can't stop me." The third prince revealed a winning smile to the Emperor.

"You stubborn child." Slowly, the Emperor released his hands away from the third prince.

After being released from each other, both began setting their clothes.

"I heard you had a dizzy head today? Is the poison acting up again?" The Royal Physician asked with a slightly worried voice.

"Eunuch Wu can't keep his mouth closed, can he?" There was a slight annoyance in his voice when talking about the elder eunuch.

"If it is about your health, then he never does. Let me see your pulse."

The Emperor raised his sleeves up and let the third prince listen to his pulse.

"Hm, it's really persistent this poison. I'll add some more dosage to the medicine to suppress it from acting up. I will take my leave now." The Royal Physician turned around and was prepared to leave when the Emperor spoke again.

"Fu Jin."

The Royal Physician Jin turned back to his brother once again.

Though Third Prince Fu Jin was born from a different mother, both shared the same father. Their faces were fairly similar to each other and they both had the same handsome face structures. However, the third prince's features had a softer and noble like than that of the Emperors.

The Emperor's features were distinguished and much sharper than the third prince, but in some angles, it was so much sharper that he could be described as a dangerously handsome person. However, both were raised by Empress Dowager Xin and were as close as any borne from the same mother.

The Emperor sighed before speaking, "You do know the Feng family will not be kept no matter what." Emperor Yang Long's voice was final.

A small smile was revealed on the Royal Physician's face, "Brother, you do know, the right prime minister Li can also not be kept. Have you told second sister-in-law yet?"

"You!?"

"It's a shame that you only fell in love with the girl from the Li family so that's why you are targeting her last, but don't forget that day when we almost lost mother if it weren't for grandfather's life."

"That day…"

At the Xin's family house.

Empress Dowager Xin was holding onto the baby in her arms tightly while two of her sons stood beside her.

At the time, Empress Dowager Xin was still the Empress of Xin Li and had just given birth to the second prince Shen Kun."

"Father, where are you going?"

"Don't worry. All of this will end soon." The leader of the Xin Household who was the left prime minister at the time comforted his eldest daughter.

He then kneeled down and pulled his two grandchildren closer to him, "Protect your mother and stay in here. Help will come soon."

Those were his final words to the two princes before he went away, far away from them.

The next thing that happened was them running and running until one day, they were called back to the palace.

However, before leaving the Xin family house, the two princes had secretly followed their grandfather out when their mother was sleeping with their brother. They were sure that their mother and brother would be safe because it was a secret room that was built in their household. No one but them would be able to find it.

Late at night, they had overheard something, they should have never heard.

"The Xin family have begun a treason, they cannot be left! Bring all of them here" A loud noble like voice announced at the main side of the household.

However, the two princes saw no signs of their grandfather.

They went through the secret passage that led them to a small field behind their household, there they saw a scene that could not be erased from their eyes.

Their grandfather was murdered in front of their eyes. Moreover, the person who murmured them was none other than grandfather's trusted aid, Lieutenant Feng Hong Yi.

"Grandfather!" Prince Yang Long's boyish voice cried out loud as he and prince Fu Jin witnessed his grandfather's death. Then, everything went black.

He had fainted and what he remembered next was that he had woken up in a small cottage with his mother beside him. Their aunt along with their cousin, Xin Xie Ye was also saved from that catastrophe. For a long time, both princes did not even talk for days. They hardly ate or drank any sip of water.

The scene of their grandfather being murdered stayed in both of their memories until this day.

Back to present time.

"However, brother, have you ever wondered how we even got back to mother?" The Royal physician asked his brother with a curious voice.

Emperor Yang Long looked away from his brother, "No. And I do not want to know."

"It's a shame because I do. Who knows, you might be wrong." The third prince's voice held a hint of mocking at his brother.

"That is enough for now. I've been this tolerant of them for years, can you not see my generosity?"

The third prince bowed with a small smile, "Yes, bixie is benevolent. But don't forget, once you know the truth, you should stop."

There was no response from the Emperor.

Royal Physician Jin could not only reveal a sorrowful smile.

...He could only hope.

...Hope that it would not be too late for his brother to return back to the way he used to be. It has been 7 years...

The third prince did not linger around any longer and left.

After the third prince was no longer in the room, Won revealed himself once again in front of the emperor

"Bixie,"

"Leave him be. Just report what goes on in the Royal Physician Centre is enough."

"Yes, Bixie."

Since there was no harm left, Won too went back to his place leaving the owner of the study room alone.

Though part of him wanted to go see Mei Fang, another part of him was very unwilling.

In the end, he could only make his way to a tea table beside the window that was left open. His dark bottomless eyes stared out at the sun that was setting into the curves of the earth.

Kunning Palace

After tying up all the girls to the tree, Su Rong returned with a happy smile on her face. Her hands had been itching to deal with for a very long time. If it weren't for Hui Lan's request then she would have long kicked them out.

...From the looks of this, it seems the Emperor would receive another loss, tch.

However, when she was in the room, she was only met with a serious-looking Hui Lan who was staring at the small bottle that was given to her by the Royal Physician Jin. What was even in that bottle?

"Niang Niang?" Su Rong's initial voice was sweet and polite, but there was still no answer from Hui Lan. She tried once again, "Niang Niang." Still no response.

"Niang Niang!" This time, she finally let it all out and shouted.

"Huh?" "Huh?" Both Hui Lan and Xiao Mao straightened their backs and looked towards the source of the noise that woke them from their half awoken consciousness.

Su Rong went up to sit beside Hui Lan and placed her hand on Hui Lan's arm, "Uncle Feng and Aunt Feng are coming tomorrow, aren't you going to prepare yourself?"

Hui Lan was slightly lost, "Why do I need to prepare myself?"

Hearing that it was nothing special, Xiao Mao instantly fell back into his slumber.

"Aiya, have you already forgotten? The Emperor will be welcoming them in the meeting hall tomorrow. You are also supposed to be present there as well."

"Me?" Hui Lan was even more lost.

"En. I just received news that you are to be present and prepare yourself. Even though I smell that he is only trying to reassure Uncle and Aunt Feng with this kind of welcoming, tch!"

"It's tomorrow. Why do I have to prepare myself now?" Hui Lan finally asked the question inside.

"Ah? My dear friend, don't you have public fright ah? You would usually practice walking with me and practice talking with me, aren't you going to do that?" Su Rong was too at a loss for her friend who seems to be forgetting many things the entire day.

Suddenly, images of this body doing such things were being replayed in her mind. Hui Lan slowly raised her hand and held her head as if having a headache.

...This girl, she was truly one of a kind ah.

Hui Lan then tiredly looked at Su Rong, and spoke while feeling slightly ashamed for this owner's place, "I'm not doing that today and never again. You can go...wait, you said I'll be going to the meeting hall, what meeting hall am I going to?" All of a sudden, a thought flashed into her mind.

Su Rong replied straight away, "The officials' meeting with the Emperor ah."

"...The officials' meeting hall…" which means she will get to see all the officials tomorrow. Before, this girl had her eyes only at the Emperor and had not even taken a glance at the officials at all. So the images were all vaguely unclear to her.

Just as Hui Lan was about to ask for something from Su Rong, Xiao Mao's ears began twitching as he heard hustling noises outside. Xiao Mao opened his eyes and looked outside, just in time to see a vague shadow moving.

"Miss," Xiao Mao tweeted.

Hui Lan kept her lips closed and replied to Xiao Mao in her head, "What is it?"

"I think there is someone outside." Xiao Mao tweeted honestly back.

Hearing such, Hui Lan could not help but roll her eyes in irritation. Does she have to crack these walls open before she could freely do something?

...This damn palace was truly restricting her arms and legs.

Hui Lan pointed up the roof to show Su Rong that there was someone up on the roof. Quickly, Su Rong understood what Hui Lan meant and nodded.

Since Su Rong understood her, Hui Lan pulled out a piece of paper and began writing in swiftly. Each brush stroke was strong and fast, unlike the graceful handwriting from before. However, Su Rong could only keep it to herself.

Hui Lan wrote…

...Get me a book about all the officials for me. I want to know about the right prime minister. When you bring it, bring it along with a food tray so no one will suspect you.

Su Rong looked up and nodded.

Hui Lan revealed a small smile before speaking out loud, "Su Rong, forget about that. I'm hungry, can you please get me some food?"

"Alright, I'll be on my way."

Both then smiled at each other before Su Rong made her way out.

If you wanted to trick someone, you must go all out.

As Hui Lan watched Su Rong make her way out. She could not wait to read about these officials more. Did this Emperor truly value the peace between his two ministers as he said to this owner before she died or not?

Hui Lan began contemplating. This Kingdom had so many hidden waves. No one was fighting straight ahead for it looked peaceful on the surface, but the power currents were moving rapidly in the dark.

...Since she must survive in this place, she must learn to survive.

...Moreover, looking at walls all day long was not her type. Since she was granted to go into a historical period, then she would gain as much experience of everything so she can teach to her students about it.

...The thing was...how was she to return ah?